Legend of the Kazakh musical instrument Dongbula

There is a Kazakh proverb: "When you were born, singing opened the door for you; when you were sleeping, singing accompanied you into the grave." From then on, Dongbula, a plucked instrument with a pear shaped belly, a thin and long neck, sound insulation by strings, and only two strings, has become a favorite of the Kazakh people. Generations of singers have used it to express their national emotions, criticize darkness, praise light, expose cruelty, sing happiness, and love for national culture...

Talking about its origin, there is such a story. Legend has it that long ago, there was a cruel Khan on the grassland. People were filled with disgust and anger at the mention of his name. His equally ferocious and brutal son disappeared during a hunting trip before his 50th birthday. The ferocious Khan ordered servants in the palace to find him within three days. Anyone who brings any unlucky news must fill his mouth with boiling aluminum water!

After some trouble, a young rider finally discovered the body of the Khan's son. He was lying stiffly next to a wild boar. It seemed that he had been knocked down by a wild boar and his heart had been cut out by his sharp teeth. "What should I do? How do you tell Khan about this terrible thing?" Everyone probed each other with horrified eyes.

Later, they came to the old herdsman's yurt and asked him to help him give advice. The old man thought hard and was silent for a long time. Finally, he said: "There is a way. If we can tell this terrible incident without our mouths, won't we all be able to escape this cruel punishment?" After saying that, he picked up two of the best thin wooden boards from the tree in front of his house, slaughtered his horse, and drew two long tendons from the horse's legs. "Friend, don't pity this thin horse, because it died in the most useful place." As the old man spoke, he put the wooden boards and horse tendons on the thin stones and patiently rubbed them, and then let the servants go to the stove to rest.

The next day, a magical musical instrument was made. The old man smiled and was very satisfied with his ingenious creation. "Now we can go to the Khan!" The old man said excitedly. So he led the servants who were looking for the Khan's son on horseback and headed straight to the Khan's palace. When they arrived at the palace, the Khan sat high on his throne, flanked by warriors holding shining weapons. In the center of the palace was a pot filled with boiling aluminum water, and the fire was burning fiercely. "Have you brought me news of the prince?" Khan roared at the old man. "Your majesty, I have brought you nothing except a wonderful musical instrument-the Dongbula." The old man replied calmly. Then he played the musical instrument he had made last night.

Yue Yue truthfully recounted the discovery of his son's body. Khan jumped from the throne. "Good! Is this the news you brought me? I want to fill your mouth with boiling aluminum water!" He gritted his teeth and let out a wild cry like a wild animal. The old man said quietly,"Your Majesty Khan, but I said nothing. The one making the sound was the Dombula in my hand. If you think it is guilty, please punish it!"

The Khan, who lost his mind, did not forgive the Dumbula because it was a musical instrument. He asked the samurai to pour aluminum water into the Dumbula's mouth. Just like this, the Khan's crazy anger did not stop, and then he shouted again: "Come on, tie this cunning old bone and kill it!" The old herdsman did not surrender to the Khan's domineering power. He shouted: "Stop!" After snatching Dongbula, he sang angrily: "Majestic warriors, don't mess with your prestige. Please gently put away your unsheathed steel knives. The elderly are filled with anger and injustice. This anger and injustice are the simplest truth in the world. Don't think that our own strength is alone, our brothers are everywhere on the grassland! Violating public opinion is a man, and we have the power to throw him off the throne!"

After listening to the old man's song, the servants raised their heads one by one, and the court warriors straightened their chests. They sang along with Dongbula to express the long-buried anger in their hearts. The song erupted like a volcano, and the Khan lost his former majesty. Paralyzed by the angry song, he fell from his high throne into the boiling aluminum pot.

This was the first song of Dongbula. From then on, Dongbula, the spiritual partner of the Kazakh people, has become popular on the grassland. The legendary musical instrument Dongbula has always become an inseparable partner of the Kazakh people.